Reborn as the First Boss, Book 13 Epilogue (Patreon)

Epilogue – Elsewhere

The Holy Theocracy of Eclana, where the Righteous Pantheon of the Good Peoples of the World reigned supreme, was always in some sort of unrest. Mortals were weak creatures, and needed a firm hand to guide them upon the proper path, but that weakness also meant that they resented those who would show them the way. Despite the righteous faith that the churches called for in their people, there were always those who chafed against the strictures of the Church, and were seduced by the false freedoms and temporary pleasures that heresy offered. Thus, the Holy Inquisition always kept watch, to ensure that heresy, when it showed its vile face, was purged without hesitation, to prevent its rot from spreading through the land.

Sadly, the Holy Inquisition was stretched thinner than ever, as bad portents and foul omens had compounded into worse news. Eztar’s fleeing the divine realm had created a vacuum in the Theocracy, as his priests risked being corrupted by Zerat, who was the forgotten other half of the god Eztar had been before he purified his domain of undeath. Now, the Council of Nine was the Council of Eight, as the Voice of the World announced Eztar had returned to the divine realm, only to send out another announcement, declaring his death.

This was terrible news for the Theocracy. For the Theocracy was built upon the eight pillars that were the True Gods, with the Pope Queen standing above, leading them, while the Holy Theocracy tirelessly worked to ensure nothing disrupted the structure. Now, one of the pillars was gone, and it threatened to bring down everything they had built since the Theocracy’s founding.

Pope-Queen Marion Lionspirit looked at her Council of Eight, with a heavy heart. “I know you have all heard from your people regarding the announcements from the Voice of the World. Grand Inquisitor Dederic’s forces will, of course, dedicate themselves to ensuring the stability of the Theocracy in the short term, keeping people from reacting out of fear to this changing landscape. But here, in this Council, we must admit that the Theocracy is in its most precarious state ever. If our holy institution is to survive, then we must find a way to stabilize things in the long term.”

Dederic nodded from his place at the other end of the table. “Of course, Holiness. But it would make the Inquisition’s job easier if we could focus the people’s attentions elsewhere, for a time. Give them something to focus on whilst we work to repair the damage Lord Eztar’s passing has done.”

At the Pope-Queen’s right hand, Bartram, High Priest of Zevlo, cleared his throat. “I can, at least, offer some clarity on what happened to Lord Eztar. I have heard from one of the faithful in the Church of Zevlo in Coldpeak, capital of Dascora. While the churches took oaths to stay out of politics, in return for their independence from the Dascoran crown, representatives were still there as witnesses when the King celebrated his ten years upon the throne.”

Dederic’s eyes narrowed. “You are saying that Dascora is responsible for Lord Eztar’s demise?”

“Not directly. It seems that Lord Eztar descended in Dascora’s Northern Reaches, behind the lines that have kept our soldiers at bay for years. The General in charge of that land is Ailuin Helecan, formerly of the elven land of Smsera, before the Theocracy brought holy enlightenment to the elves there. His hatred of the Theocracy is well known. Unfortunately, the reason Lord Eztar was not able to reach out to his faithful is because he was found by the General’s people, and made a slave by the Dascorans, to prevent escape.”

Fire lit in Dederic’s eyes, matched in fervor by the other holy people around the table. “Such blasphemy! We should declare a crusade upon Dascora immediately!”

Pope-Queen Marion took a breath to calm herself, and focus her mind. “What purpose did the General have for this, beyond blasphemy against the True Gods out of spite for a fallen land?”

Bartram sighed. “Lord Eztar was presented as a gift to the Dascoran king, in front of the entire court at the celebration. King Skysword knew releasing Lord Eztar would strengthen us, while slaying him outright would cause the faithful in his own lands to rise up in righteous anger, while keeping him would serve as a rallying cry for us to launch a crusade. And so, he asked for the opinion of Bishop Avin, the local leader of Zevlo’s faithful.”

“And what did the Bishop recommend?” Lionspirit asked.

“That a rite be done to release Eztar from the mortal form he took upon his descent, with care taken to focus the divine energies he possessed, to ensure that he was sent back to the divine realm as whole as possible. The Dascoran king agreed that leaving matters of the divine to the divine was the best course for mortals, and so the rite was scheduled to be done that night, two nights ago, now, when the announcements came through.”

Dederic cursed, and did not try to hide it. “Damn it all. By asking the faithful for advice on the divine, Skysword made it a matter of the churches, not the kingdom, and if the story spreads that the ritual was designed to strengthen Eztar, and he still lost to Zetar? Then we will lose face in attempting to crusade against Dascora.”

Arthurus, High Priest of Cineas, shook his head. “Regardless, we must respond to this in some way. Dascora must be punished for not returning Lord Eztar to us! Even if we cannot crusade, there must be something we can do?”

Hugh, High Priest of Tamaris, Goddess of Justice, leaned forward. “If we were to strike, then there would be two targets which would serve as justice for these acts, and could be used to show the people that the Theocracy is still strong. The first is that elven general who had the temerity to enslave a god, and the second is whoever conducted the ritual that sent Lord Eztar to his death.”

Arthurus shook his head. “The General is too well-defended. He has long been a target of our assassins, and his chief lieutenants, also elven refugees who fled his homeland’s enlightenment, have had just as long to learn our methods, and the defenses against them. We would not be able to get to him without a crusade to draw him out of his defenses.”

Pope-Queen Lionspirit looked to Bartram. “Who conducted the ritual? Mayhaps they will be easier to strike at?”

Bartram sighed. “That would be the Baroness Pureheart we have discussed before. She has the [Ritualist] skill, and the Divine Blessing of Zerat. Meaning that she was the natural choice for the rite. Unfortunately, it was also confirmed that she was level 10 in Tier 2, before the rite. She probably gained at least one level from participating in such a rare ritual.”

Dederic shook his head. “Our agents in Windwater Barony are all but gone, and we lost an Inquisitor and his full retinue there, as well. Even when she was away from her lands, our agents continued to disappear, including the one that was to prepare to conduct the [Soulslave Ritual] on her. And we still have no knowledge of just what powers she has. It is likely that she would be even more difficult to attack directly than the general.”

“We will find a way to deal with Pureheart, and the general, in time,” Lionspirit said. “For now, we must decide on how to adjust to Lord Eztar’s demise. With Zerat becoming the God of Death and Undeath, we may have to accept him as the new eighth pillar of the Theocracy. And it would allow us to bring the faithful of Eztar back into the fold. Thoughts?”